Resolution on Property Confiscation

[dateline] [27 November 1777]

Resolved That it be Earnestly recommended to the several States, as soon as may be,
to Confiscate and make sale of all the Real and Personal Estate therein, of such of
their Inhabitants and other Persons who have forfeited the same, and the right to
the Protection of their respective States; and to invest the money arising from the
Sales in Continental Loan office Certificates, to be appropriated in Such manner as
the respective States shall hereafter direct.

Query How the Persons thus forfeiting shall be described, 2. In what manner the Confiscation
shall be Conducted. 3. And whether any Law can be framed to oblige a Person who is
suspected to be indebted to any of those Estates and no obligation to be found, or
even known to be indebted yet Cannot Ascertain the particular Sum &c.?1

Tr in an unknown hand with queries added (Adams Papers); docketed in an unknown hand: “Resolve of Congress.”

1. In August, Stephen Hopkins wrote to the congress enclosing a journal produced by a
committee, of which he was president, of the New England states and New York. The
concern of these states was the need to support the value of paper currency. The letter
and journal were referred to a three-man committee, later increased to eight members.
Its report, including a long preamble and seven resolutions, was extensively debated
on 22 and 26 Nov. The eighth resolution, here printed, was adopted on the 27th (JCC, 8:650, 731; 9:953–958, 968–970, 971). How the copy of the resolution and queries
were acquired by JA is unknown to the editors. The handwriting is of neither James Lovell nor Elbridge
Gerry, who was one of those added to the congressional committee.